ppop

This essay ppop has a total of 2826 words and 9 pages.
The novel With the Old Breed by E.B. Sledge is a memoir that tells the story of training and two battles fought by Eugene Bondurant Sledge during his time as a private during World War II with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine regiment, 1st Marine Division. It serves as a firsthand account that truly displays the horrors, conditions, and sentiments that were felt in infantry divisions that fought in the Pacific. The novel talks about the incredible hardships and feelings of hopelessness that were felt by men during battle, and also shows the trust and friendships that were created between soldiers as they fought together. Throughout the novel Sledge wrestles with the overall brutality of the war, and often wonders if it necessary or if there is even a greater good. After reading this memoir the reader will have followed a common American soldier to Boot Camp, and through both of his battle campaigns. The story essentially picks up when E.B. Sledge decides that he does not want to be in a Marines officer training program at Georgia Tech anymore and deliberately flunks out of college to be able to actually fight in combat. He along with many other Georgia Tech dropouts are immediately shipped to San Diego to undergo boot camp in order to ready them for battle.. Upon arriving at boot camp, sledge was assigned to drill instructor corporal Doherty. It immediately became apparent to him as well as his fellow recruits that Doherty would be the master of our fates for the weeks to come (10). The drilling was consistent and unrelenting as the grueling day began with reveille at 0400 and ended at 2200 with taps (11). In addition to that they could be woken up at any time for rifle inspection, close-order drill, or a run around the grounds. Doherty never yelled at them very loud, but conveyed his disapproval of the recruits through his icy stares that send cold chills through us (10). Sledge knew that if they didnt follow orders to a tee, that he would be reamed out and embarrassed in front of the entire platoon. 2 In boot camp, discipline and following orders was the most crucial thing to adhere to be able to escape unscathed. One lapse of concentration or lack of understanding could result in injury or severe punishment from the drill instructors. As the recruits progressed they began to shoot their guns on a range and were pressed hard on being accurate and safe with their weapons. There was an instance when a soldier accidently pointed his rifle muzzle away from the targets which resulted in a boot in the rear so hard that the man was knocked over by the kick of the captain (12). A scene like this was not uncommon in boot camp as drill instructors knew what the young recruits would be facing and needed to get them ready. In the end Sledge earned a sharpshooter badge, and had done well enough in boot camp to earn a trip overseas. The soldiers arrived at Camp Elliot for infantry training, and Sledge was assigned to use a 60mm mortar in battle. The 46th replacement battalion headed out to sea on February 28, 1944 on board the President Polk a once luxury liner that was turned into a battleship. The conditions were hot, stuffy, and crowded as they travelled from San Diego into the Pacific. These conditions were only worsened by the extreme boredom that was felt on the ship and the monotony of the days that went by. After reaching Camp Saint Louis in New Caledonia, the soldiers underwent one of their most valuable training exercises in which they laid down and were forced to endure shots from various Japanese weapons as they flew over their heads in order to learn the sounds that different guns made (30). Once additional training was complete the 46th battalion learned that they were going to head up north to Pavuvu. It was at this point that Sledge learned he was going to be in the 3rd battalion 5th Marines. Weeks were spent on the island on work parties picking up coconuts that had rotted or paving walkways. These jobs were awful and were paired with the fact that there was no shower water, and a constant influx of land crabs that hid in clothing and drove soldiers mad.

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